Eye set for dolls



June 11, 1935. N, POPOVICH 2,004,173-

, EYE SET FOR DOLLS Filed May 22, 1933 lNVEN R ATTORNEY Patented June 11,1935

UNITED c STATES} PATENT OFFICE Nicholas Popovich, 'Teaneck, N. J., assignor of one-third to Joseph A. Tal'emer and one-third to Leo J. Schlitzer, both of New York, N. Y.

Application May 22, 1933, Serial No. 672,116

14 Claims. This invention relates in general to eye sets for dolls and artificial figures, including eye members which are mounted withinthe head of a doll or the like to rotate in eye openings or sockets and simulate natural movement ofthe eyes as in opening and closing thereof. -More particularly the invention relates to eye sets of this character which comprise a supporting means or bar which is secured in the dollhead adjacent the eye opening and on which are mounted eye members and means for holding and rotating them inth'e eye sockets or openings.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide a supporting means or bar for such eye sets which shall comprise a single piece of metal" which is initially of a length less than the dis" tance between opposite side Walls of a doll head,

which has prongs in its ends'to penetrate the material of the head, and which shall embody novel and improved features of construction whereby said bar can be lengthened, elongated or extended within the head to cause said prongs to penetrate the material in the walls. of the headand secure the bar in the head; and to provide such a supporting bar which shall comprise a singlefiat strip; of ductilemetal having end section-s connected by a plurality of extensible.

rod-like sinuous sections each having a plurality of alternately reversely curved or angularly disposed portions which can be extended or elongated and partially straightened by exerting tension on said end portions tending to separate them, whereby said bar can be lengthened to force said prongs into the walls of a doll head.

Further objects are to provide a novel and improved bracket for mounting eye members on such supporting bar, said bracket to be formed of a single piece of resilient sheet metal'shaped to provide bearing notches for an eye member pivot rod and having a spring arm to influence said pivot rod and the eye members carried thereby into the eye sockets; and to provide anovel and improved combination of such a supporting bar and bracket whereby said bracket can be securely fastened upon said bar and clamped between said extensible, sections thereof simultaneously with the extension of the bar as the latter is mounted in the doll head. 7

Difliculty has been encountered heretofore in attaching glass eyeballs to mountings, especially because the eye balls easily crack or chip and cannot be bent, or penetrated with fasteners; but

, glass eye members are preferable to eye members formed of other material because the glass eyeon the line 2-4 of Figure 1. ,v i

balls more closelysirnulate the natural or anaw tomical eye and can be more easily made. Thereing including an eyeball consisting of a seg- 5 merit of a hollow sphere, approximately hemispherical, anda spring clip consisting of a split spring ring embracing and partially surrounding the edges of the eyeball and having a flange overlyin-gthe face or spherical surface of the ey- 10 ball and lugs overlying the rear or chordal plane surface; to provide such an eyeball mounting wherein said flange of said clip has a segmental spherical portion partially overlying the upper portion of the faceof the eyeball to simulate 15 aneyelid; to provide such a structure wherein said clip has integral lugs to slidably receive a pivot rod for rotatably mounting the eyeballs on the supporting bar; and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by 2 the followingdescription. U

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which corresponding and like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views, v

I Figure 1 is a rear elevationofan eye set embodying'my invention, showing it in a doll head which is illustrated in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a transversevertical sectional view Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional .view on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2.- 1 a Figure 4 is a detached plan viewof the supportingbar: showingit in its-initial shape by solid lines and in its extended condition by dot and dash lines. V

Figure 5 is a composite perspective view of the supporting bar, bracket and eye member supporting yoke, showing them in the relation prior to' assembly. I

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the rear of one of the eye members.

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through one of the eye members.

Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through a modified form of eye member.

Figures 9, l0 and 11 are perspective views of the parts of the eye member shown in Figure 8, and

Figure 12 is a plan view of a modification of the supporting bar. 7 r V p 7 Specifically describing the illustrated embodimerit of the invention thereference character A designates a doll head of known construction whichis formed of penetrable material and has 5 the usual eye sockets B in the face portion thereof. In each of the eye sockets is arranged an eye member I mounted to rotate to simulate opening and closing of the eyes, these eye members being mounted on a pivot member or rod 2 which is in turn pivotally mounted in a bracket 3 which is secured on a supporting member or bar 4.

length and including a plurality of alternately re-.

versely curved or angularly disposed portions which can be elongated or extended and partially straightened by exerting pressure on the end sections 5 tending to separate them, as shown by dot and dash lines in Figure 4. Preferably the sinuous sections 1 merge into each other integrally at theirendsand at-spaced intermediate points along'the -longitudinal median line of the bar. The end sections- 5 are formed with shoulders 8 each-in opposed and alined relation to one prong 6 to forma bearing point or abutment for a tool for exerting tension on the end sections. ,The supporting-bar is normally of a length less than the distance between the opposite side walls of the doll head, as shown in Figure 4, and in applying the supporting bar to the doll head,'tension is exerted on the end sections 5 so as to pull them apart, elongate thebar and drive the prongs 6 into the walls of the doll head as shown in Figure-l. The shoulders 8 enable pressure to be applied to the prongs 6 in direct line with the prongs and uniformly on all prongs to avoid twisting of the end sections as the prongs are driven into the doll head. Obviously, the bar will be located adjacent the eye sockets B and in' approximately equidistantly spaced relation from each of the eye sockets.

which is folded on itself and providedwith a reentrant groove 9 at the fold. The free extremities of the strip are disposed in approximately parallel relation andhave grooves I0 toreceive the central sections I of the supporting bar, and

notches I88 to straddle one of the junctions II! of the sinuous sections. the supporting' bar by inserting the free ends of the strip between the sinuous sections before the bar is elongated, onesinuous section being arranged in the groove I0 of each end and the its free end extending through said slot I2 trans versely of the groove 9.

The reentrant groove 9 of the bracket serves as a bearing for the pivot member 2 which is shown in the form of a rod having its end portions fiattenedat I3 and disposed in axial alinement with each, other, and the pivot rod 2 is'inserted into ,thegroove 9 with the spring tongue II behind the rod and tending to influence it outwardly of The bracketis attached to the groove. The flat ends of the pivot rod slidably support the eye members I. Each eye member includes an eyeball I4 consisting of a segment of a hollow sphere, preferably formed of glass. Pref V erably this segment is substantially a hemisphere and has on its spherical surface the representation of a pupil and iris as indicated at I5. The eyeball I4 is mountedon the'pivot rod 2 by a spring clip I6 in the form of a split ring that embraces and surrounds the edges of the chordal plane surface I! of the eyeball a distance substantially greater than half the circumference of said edges. At the ends of the clip I6 and at substantially the center thereof, lugs l8 overlie the chordal plane surface I1 and the clip also has a flange I9 which overlies the spherical surface of the eyeball I4. Also preferably, the flange i9 is extended into a segmental portion 2% which simulates an eyelid and may be used for securing eyelashes 2I to the eyeball between itself and the clip IE by reduced bendable neck portions so that by bending these'ne'ck portions, the eye member can be angularly adjusted on the pivot rod so as to properly align with 01' fit the eye sockets.

In assembling the eye set in a doll head, the bracket 3 is attached tothe supporting bar 4, and the pivot rod 2 is slipped into the groove 9 of the bracket. Thereafter, the eye members I are set inthe eye sockets B and the supporting bar 4 is secured in the head. The spring tongue II yieldingly influences the eye members into the eye sockets, and the longitudinalmovement of the eye members on the pivot rod permits theni to adjust themselves to various'distances between v i a a 1 the. eye sockets. The bracket 3 for supporting the pivot member 2, comprises'a single strip of resilient sheet'metal A of the eyes when the doll is laid horizontally.

The pendulum arm is provided with an extension 25 which abuts the spring tongue I I to limit swinging movement of the pivot rod in the direction to rotate the eye members into open-eye position, the spring tongue H thus serving as a shock absorber or buffer.

Instead of the eye members shown in Figures l to 7 I may utilize an eye member such as is shown in Figure 8 and which comprises two segments, 2B and 21, of a hollow sphere, each less than a hemisphere. One segment 21 has the representation'28 of an iris thereon and has at one edge a flange 29 which is clamped in a groove 30 in the other section 26, whereby the two sections are connected together. The groove 36 is formed by stamping themetal of the section 26, and-the flange 29 canbe clamped in the groove 'by squeezing the walls of the groove together.

This joint between the two sections 26 extends horizontally transversely so as to simulate the edge of an eyelid, and'of course the section 26 may be flesh-colored. The construction is particularly advantageous in that it facilitates the mounting of eyelashes on the eye member. These lashes are shown as comprising a strip 320i suitable material, for example tape, to which hairs 33 are glued or otherwise secured. The strip 32 v clearly shown in'Figure 8.

is curved correspondingly to the curvature of the groove 39 and is clamped in saidgroove in juxtapositicnto the flange 29 of the section 21 as With this construction, the hairs orlashes 33 are caused to project outwardly from the eye member in close simulation of natural lashes. 'This avoids the neces sity of molding orshaping the lashes as shown in Figure. "l and greatly-reduces the possibility. "of the lashes following the contour of the spherical surface in such a .way as toconceal the repe resentation ofthe iris.

This eye member has diametrically opposite ears 34 formed with openings 36 to receive Ithe pivot rod, disposed perpendicularly to the chordal tudinally and is secured in the doll head with Y the convex side facing the eyesockets B, as shown in Figure 3, whereby the tendency to displacement of saicl'supporting bar by blows on the doll head or dropping thereof, isresisted by the bar. Any tendency of the bar tofiex at its middle toward the back of the head will not pull the prongs out of the doll head but will tend to straighten the bar andforce the prongs further into. the head, whilefiexingof the bar in the other direction is relatively slight and will be restrained by the bracket 3. v r

A modification of the supporting baris shown in Figure 12 where the sinuous sections 190 are unconnectedintermediate their ends, and the end sections 596 have openings to receive a tool for extending the bar to force the prongs .600 into the doll head. I a i r e While Ihave shown and described my invention as embodied in certain details of constructionit should be understood thatthis is primarily for illustrating the principles of the invention and that many modifications and changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope'of the invention.

Having thus described myf invention What I claim is:

1. In an eye mounting a supporting member comprising a substantially straight fiat strip of,

ductile metal having end sections formed with integral prongs to be embedded in opposite walls of a doll head, said endsections beingconnected by integral longitudinally extending sinuous rodlike portions spaced apart and lying in the plane of the strip and capable of being partially straightened and extended by tension exerted on said end sections tending to separate them, whereby said prongs can be driven into a doll head and will be heldin positionin the doll head by the inherent rigidity of the metal of the strip to secure the supporting member in the doll head.

2. In an eye moun ing; a pair o-fieye members, a pivot rod therefor, anda bracket for said pivot rod comprising a single piece of resilient metal folded upon itself to form a reentranti groove at the fold receiving and serving as a bearing for said pivot rod, and means securing the ends of said piece of metal in the doll head, the folds of said bracket which form the reentrant groove being slotted and a spring tongue being carried integrally by the bracket with its free end exgroove'and behind said pivot rod toinfluence the pivot rod outwardly of the groove.

3. In an eye mounting, a supporting member comprising a single flat strip of ductile metal having end sections formed with integral prongs to be embedded in opposite side walls of a doll head, and a plurality of longitudinal sinuous sections connecting said end sections, each of substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length and capable of being partially straightened and extended by exerting of tension on said end sections tending to separate them, whereby said prongs can be driven into said doll head .to secure said supporting member therein, the correspondingends of said sinuous sections directly integrally merging into each other so that the intermediate portions .ofsaid sinuous sections are drawn toward each other asthey are extended, a pair of eye members anda. pivot member therefor, and a bracket for portions clamped between said sinuous sections for securing said bracket on said supporting member. i

4;. In an eyeamounting, a. supporting member tending through said slotted folds across said "20 said pivot member having comprising a single fiat strip of ductile metal having end sections formed with integral prongs to be embedded in opposite side walls of a doll head, and a plurality of longitudinal sinuous sections connecting. said end sections, each of substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length and capable of being partially straightened and extended by exerting of tension on said end sections tending to separate them, all portions of saidsinuous sections being in substantially the common plane of the strip wherebysaid prongs can bedriven into saiddoll head to secure said supporting'member therein, said sinuous portions having suiiicient' inherent rigidity so aatomaintain the pairof eye members and a pivot membertherefor, and a bracket for said pivot member having portions mounted between and held by" said sinuous sections for securing said bracket on said supporting member. V i

5; In an eye mounting, a supporting member comprising a single ifiitl stripof ductile metal having end sections formed with integral prongs to be embedded in opposite side walls of a doll head, and a plurality of longitudinal sinuous sections connecting said end sections, each of substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length and capable ofbeing partially straightened and extended by exertingof tension on said end section tending to separate them whereby said prongs can be driven into said doll head to secure grooves to receive said sinuous sections whereby when said sinuous sections are drawn together said portions of the bracket. are clamped and held with the latter in' between the sinuous sections said grooves. r

6. In an eye mounting, .a supporting member comprising a single fiat strip of ductile metal having ,end sections formed with. integral prongs to be embedded in opposite side walls of a doll head, and a plurality of longitudinal sinuous sections connecting said end sections, each of subprongs in set position, a,

stantially uniform cross-section throughout its length and capable of being partially straightened and extended by exerting of tension onsaid end sections tending to separate them, whereby said prongscan be driven into said doll head to secure said supporting member therein, a pair of eye members and a pivot member thereof, and a bracket for said pivot member comprising a single piece of resilient metal folded upon itself and having a reentrant groove at the fold Tsections connecting said end sections, each of substantially uniform cross-section throughout its, length and capable of being partially straightened and extended byexerting of tension on said end sections tending to separate them,

whereby said prongs can be driven into said doll.

head to secure said'supporting member therein,

, the corresponding ends of said sinuous sections directly integrally merging into each other so that the intermediate portions of said sinuous sections are drawn toward each other as they are extended, a pair of eye members and a pivot member therefor, and a bracket for said pivot member comprising a single piece of resilient metal folded upon itself and having a reentrant groove at the fold receiving and serving as a bearing for said pivot member, the ends of said piece of metal to be located between and formed with grooves to receive said sinuous sections, whereby as said sinuous sections are drawn together' said ends of said piece of metal forming the bracket are clamped and held between said sinuous sections.

8. In an eye mounting, a supporting means to be secured in a doll head, a pair of eye members and a pivot member for mounting said eye members on said supporting means, each eye member comprising an eyeball in' the form ofa segment of a sphere, and a spring clip consist- .ing of a split resilient ring surrounding the edge of said eyeball for a distance substantially greater than half the circumference of said edge and having a flange overlying the spherical surface of the eyeball and lugs overlying the chordal plane surface of said eyeball, whereby said eyeball is removably held in said clip, said clip also having diametrically opposite ears formed with alined openings to slidably receive said pivot member; r

9. In an eye mounting, a supporting means to be secured in a doll head, a pair of eye members and a pivot member for mounting said eye members on said supporting means, each eye member comprising an eyeball in the form of a segment of a sphere, anda spring clip consisting of a split resilient ring surrounding the edge of said eyeball for a distance substantially greater than half the circumference of said edge and having a flange overlying the spherical surface of the eyeball and lugs overlying the chordal plane surface of said eyeball, whereby said eyeball is removably held in said clip, said clip also having ears for connection to said pivot member.

10. In an eye mounting, a supporting means to be secured in a doll head, a pair of eye members and a pivot rod for mounting said eye members on said supporting means, said rod having a flattened portion for each eye member, each eye member comprising an eyeball in the form of a segment of a sphere, and a spring clip consisting of a split resilient ring surrounding the edge of said eyeball for a distance substantially greater" parallel planes perpendicular to the plane of said,

split ring and formed with alined elongated openings to slidably receive one of said flattened end portions of said pivot rod.

11. In an eye mounting, a supporting member comprising a single flat strip of ductile metal having end sections formed with integral prongs to be embedded in opposite side walls of a doll head,

and a plurality of longitudinal sinuous complementary oppositely disposed sectionsconnecting said end sections, each of substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length and capable of being partially straightened and-extended by exerting of tension on said end sections tending to separate them, said sinuous sections being connected together at spaced points intermediate their ends along the longitudinal median lineof said strip, all portions of said sinuous sections being in substantially the common plane of said strip, said sinuous portions having suflicient inherent rigidity so as to maintain the prongs in set position.

12. The eye mounting set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting member is curved longitudinally in a single continuous curve, the convex side thereof being toward the dolls eyes.

13. The eye mounting set forthin claim 4 wherein said supporting member is curved'longitudinally in a single continuous curve, the convex side thereof being toward the dolls eyes and said bracket projects from the convex side thereof to be located between said supporting member and the face portion of a doll head.

14. In an eye mounting, a supporting means to be secured in a doll head, a pair of eye members and a pivot rod for mounting said eye members on said supporting means, said rod having a flattened portion for each eye member, each eye member comprising an eyeball in the form of a segment of a sphere, and means for connecting said eyeball to said rod consisting of a clip connected to the eyeball and surrounding the edge of said eyeball for a distance substantially greaterthan half the circumference of said edge and having a flange overlying the spherical surface of the eyeball and lugs overlying the chordal plane surface of said eyeball, whereby "said eyeball is removably held in said clip, said clip having diametrically opposite ears disposed in parallel planes and formed with alined openings to slidably receive one of said flattened end portions of said pivot rod, each ear being integrally connected to said clip by a reduced bendable neck portion whereby said neck portion can be bent to angularly adjust the eyeball to fit said eye sockets.

' NICHOLAS POPOVICH. 

